BRITISH FOOTBALL TEAM.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 211, 30 May 1908, Page 7

BRITISH FOOTBALL TEAM.

' -TCAPTAIN HARDING'S OPINIONS. . THE WELLINGTON MATCH. (BY TELEGItArH.—SPECIAL COBttESPONDENT.) Dunedin, May 29. Conversing'with a " Star 1,1 reporter last night, Captain Harding said that the British football teamjs win against Wairarapa was of an easy nature, fhoy beat tho Greens both back and forward, aud during twenty minutes of tho fitst- spell tho Buglishmon wore at tho top of their form. The loss against was not duo to, tho , superiority of the Blacks, either back or forward, although on tho'day's play tho better team won. ; His team did not perform so well as they might havo doho, and on the loss of Jackctt they were all at sixes and sevens; and did not get going again until tho second half. The accident ,to iJackett disorganised their forward play, and deprived them of a reasonable sharo of the ball from the scrum. This robbed their backs of any opportunity for attack as compared with tho chances that were given to tho Wellington backs. The Black forwards played a good game, and boat them in the tight' work.' The Blacks' half-back Green displayed capital form, and, ho thought, was a very promising player. I-'With tho _oxception of the rulo which gave'a freo kick for all off-sido play, . tho,' othor decisions did not' inconvenience them. Vassal 1, he thought, would bo able to don his jorsoy vory shortly, and possibly ho himself would take his place in the fiold on Saturday. : V At a reception in the Dunedin Town Hall to-day, Captain Harding said that; although ■ they lost m Wellington on '-Wednesday, ho asked them to remember that five minutes after the start of-tho second spell they had fourteen points agaiiist thorn, and,, fchey finished up by putting on thirteen themselves. He thought that his audienco would, be of tho, same ' opiijion as tho ; tcam thems'olves, that' they, could,play, a'little football after all.'. Ho had a certain amount of confidence in his team, to win the first • test match. (Hear, hear). In no way had ho lost confidence, on account of tho .display'in the Wellington match. , In: fact,, he was hioro strongly of the opinion than over, that thoy wore going to give tho New Zealanders a great game in that tot match. Most,of them by that time would-be fit, and they hoped to give their opponents a great timo '.of it in moro senses than one. . ■ - THE MATCH AGAINST OTAGO. (BT TELIiGKAPH.—PIiESS ASSOOIATIO.N'.) ' , ' Dunedin, May 29. Tho British team for tho match against Otago was picked to-day, but when a "Times" reporter.inquired for tho names of tho players lie was informed that the manager of.tho team was bound by the Now Zealand Union to give tho names to no one but those who had .acquired rights to publish tho'official programmes. It is understood, however, that tho back team will be as fol-lows:—Full-back, Griffiths; three-quarters; Gibbs (captain), Vassal], "Ponty' Jones, and Ohnpman; halves, Morgan 'and. Davey.. The forwards havo been chosen from tho following, one of whom will stand clown: — Dibble, Morgan, Oldham, J; F. Williams, Jackson, Smith, Ritson, and Archer. Tho weather is -fine to-night, but a drizzling rain'fell to-dayj'and the'ground . will probably bo heavy.; ■ • . It v is understood New Zoaland decided to chaj'go ss.j 35., and 2s. for admission to tho test.'match next week.' ; • OFFICIAL WELCOME. V , ' ; Dunedin, May 29. ■ The British footballers wero officially welcomed at tho Town Hall by the Mayor and Mr. Hutchison, president of the local' Rugby Union, who, with the Hons. J. A. Millar, representing thq, Government, made speeches. V.assall will not bo ablo to don tuo jersey till tho first-test .match. / ; New Plymouth, May 29. Mr: A. Humphries has 'accepted the position of manager of the Now Zealand tonm for the first test match at Dnnedin. Ho leaves here on Monday.